Solf an item but can't find it, what to do?

[clothesnsuch]

Hello, I need some advice on what to do in this situation.  

I've recently sold an item on ebay and I began looking for the item. I spent the entire weekend looking for the item (a gold color metal vintage belt). Even after all the searching, I did not have any success in locating the item. And I have already messaged the buyer about the situation, letting them know that I will provide a full refund in the item they have already paid. The thing I'm not sure about is canceling the order before providing a refund or having the buyer open a case . Unless there's some other way to go on about this. I don't want to cancel the order yet because I'm not sure if that'll hurt me as a seller, as I've read that it could look bad for me as a seller in canceling a order after payment has been made already. 

[downunder-61]

Hopefully they are an understanding buyer.

You do need to cancel the sale using OOS and refund immediately, this will get you a ding on your account, but there is no way around that.

Good luck, it happens but really check your stocks for the other items you have listed.

[aspme]

Cancel the order, choose item no longer avail/damaged   Ebay will refund the Buyer.  forget about how it looks or affects you!   it's happened to many of us.  Better inventory control/Item location will keep it from happening again

[lamber9347]

@clothesnsuch You are a newer seller and haven't yet built up much in feedback. Getting a ding for an honest mistake on your part will be nothing to your account. No one who purchases from you will be the wiser. This won't happen again to you so you have no risk in canceling for your error. Making your buyer have to go through a case, and having to wait for that case to close, will surely get you a negative comment from them. A negative will impact you far more than anything else because of your low feedback numbers. Make the right decision and cancel due to out of stock. Again, this will never happen to you a second time. Best of luck to you....

[ckimodog]

@downunder-61 

Nice to see you!  😊

[clothesnsuch]

Thank you for your advice!! 

[clothesnsuch]

I appreciate your feedback!! I'll keep that in mind. 

[clothesnsuch]

I appreciate your feedback!!

[johnrj1226]

I see this item as sold for $10 in your  sold items - ship it

Vintage gold waist belt See original listing

Condition: --not specified

Ended: Jun 25, 2022 , 1:41PM

Price: US $10.00

Shipping: $11.60 Standard Shipping

Located in: Reedley, California, United States

Seller: clothesnsuch (39 ) | Seller's other items

• Sell one like this

Description

eBay item number:

234403297882

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.

[nobody*s_perfect]

John, the whole point of the thread is that they can't ship it because they can't find it.

[johnrj1226]

I'm on Mars today.

[mybigsale]

@clothesnsuch 

1. Panic

2. Search for item until you can't search no more (oops it's now your shipping deadline).

3. Cancel the order and apologize to buyer.

4. Remember panic feeling and swear it will never happen again.

5. Put all your items somewhere (box1, box2, drawer1, closet2, UnderBed)

6. Edit each items Custom Label (SKU) and enter Location Weight Size (example: Box1 Ship1# 5"x3"x2")

7. Remember panic feeling. Periodically sort your eBay item list by SKU and audit locations and items (Location should be listed first in Custom Label to sort correctly)

[fab_finds4u]

LOL, I'll settle for a trip around the world. 

[divwido]

I've said before but it bears repeating-my entire office (and it's big) is coded by shelf unit and shelf number.  I know that if a listing says an item is on S3/3 it will be on the 3rd shelf unit on the 3rd shelf.  I am completely nuts about this from losing sold items.  I just lost another one this morning because I did not note where it was.  I wasted a whole week renaming and tagging every shelf, drawer unit and cubby and tagging them  with codes so I won't have to do that again.   But then, I am still human and still did it wrong-but I'm right 99.9% of the time.

[dnasilver]

But, did you write down what the codes meant?